Questions to Ask Vendor References
Make informed vendor decisions with these strategic questions that help you evaluate performance, reliability, and fit for your organization's needs.
1How long have you been working with this vendor?
Click to see why this works
How long have you been working with this vendor?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Establishes the duration of the relationship and helps assess long-term satisfaction and partnership stability.
2What services or products do they provide for you?
Click to see why this works
What services or products do they provide for you?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Gets specific details about what they actually deliver and helps you understand the scope of their capabilities.
3How would you rate their overall performance?
Click to see why this works
How would you rate their overall performance?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Provides a general assessment of satisfaction and helps you understand their overall experience with the vendor.
4What's their biggest strength?
Click to see why this works
What's their biggest strength?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Identifies what they do best and helps you understand their key value propositions and competitive advantages.
5What's their biggest weakness or area for improvement?
Click to see why this works
What's their biggest weakness or area for improvement?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals potential limitations or challenges you might face, helping you prepare for and mitigate risks.
6How responsive are they to your needs?
Click to see why this works
How responsive are they to your needs?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Assesses their customer service and support quality, which is crucial for ongoing partnership success.
7Have you experienced any major issues or problems?
Click to see why this works
Have you experienced any major issues or problems?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Identifies potential red flags and helps you understand what could go wrong in the relationship.
8How do they handle problems when they arise?
Click to see why this works
How do they handle problems when they arise?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their problem-solving approach and customer service quality during difficult situations.
9What's their communication style like?
Click to see why this works
What's their communication style like?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Helps you understand how they interact with clients and whether their communication approach fits your needs.
10How do they handle project timelines and deadlines?
Click to see why this works
How do they handle project timelines and deadlines?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Assesses their reliability and project management capabilities, which are crucial for meeting your business needs.
11What's their pricing like compared to the market?
Click to see why this works
What's their pricing like compared to the market?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Helps you understand their value proposition and whether their pricing is competitive and fair.
12How do they handle scope changes or additional requests?
Click to see why this works
How do they handle scope changes or additional requests?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their flexibility and approach to handling changes, which is important for long-term partnerships.
13What's their team like to work with?
Click to see why this works
What's their team like to work with?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Assesses the quality of their people and whether their team members are professional and easy to work with.
14How do they handle confidential or sensitive information?
Click to see why this works
How do they handle confidential or sensitive information?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Evaluates their security practices and trustworthiness, which is crucial for protecting your business data.
15What's their technology and infrastructure like?
Click to see why this works
What's their technology and infrastructure like?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Assesses their technical capabilities and whether they have the tools and systems to support your needs.
16How do they measure and report on success?
Click to see why this works
How do they measure and report on success?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their approach to metrics and accountability, helping you understand how they track and demonstrate value.
17What's their growth trajectory been like?
Click to see why this works
What's their growth trajectory been like?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Assesses their business stability and growth, which can indicate their long-term viability as a partner.
18How do they handle training and knowledge transfer?
Click to see why this works
How do they handle training and knowledge transfer?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Evaluates their approach to onboarding and knowledge sharing, which is important for successful implementation.
19What would you do differently if you were starting over?
Click to see why this works
What would you do differently if you were starting over?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals lessons learned and potential improvements, helping you avoid common pitfalls.
20Would you recommend them to others?
Click to see why this works
Would you recommend them to others?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Provides a direct recommendation assessment and helps you understand their overall satisfaction with the vendor.
Best Practices for Vendor Reference Checks
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Use questions that encourage detailed responses rather than yes/no answers. This gives you more valuable insights and context.
Listen for Specific Examples
Ask for concrete examples and stories that illustrate their points. Specific examples are more valuable than general statements.
Follow Up on Red Flags
If you hear concerning information, ask follow-up questions to understand the full context and whether it's a deal-breaker.
Question Sequences
The Performance Assessment Sequence
The Problem-Solving Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Rely on Just One Reference
Get multiple perspectives to avoid bias. One reference might have had a unique experience that doesn't represent the vendor's typical performance.
Don't Ignore Context
Consider the reference's specific situation, industry, and needs when evaluating their feedback. What works for them might not work for you.
Don't Skip the Hard Questions
Ask about problems, failures, and challenges. Understanding how they handle difficult situations is crucial for making an informed decision.